Plant ID Flashcards
Acacia baileyana - Baily Acacia
20’ - 30’
Low
Acanthus mollis - Bear’s Breech
3’ - 4’ x 2’ - 3’
Moderate
Achillea millefolium - Common Yarrow
6” - 12”
Low
Aeonium canariense - Giant Velvet Rose
1’ x spreading
Low
Fuzzy leaf texture; rosette leaf shape
Agapanthus praecox spp. orientalis - Lily of the Nile
2’ - 3’ spreading
Moderate
Agave americana - Century Plant
6’ - 8’ x 6’
Very Low
Patterns on leaves
Agave attenuata - Foxtail Agave
4’ - 5’ x 6’ - 8’
Low
Alnus rhombifolia - White Alder
50’ x 40’
High
Aloe arborescens - Torch Aloe
6’ - 8’ x 6’ - 8’
Low
Aloe barberae (A. banseii) - Tree Aloe
20’ - 30’ x 10’ - 20’
Low
Branches out
Aloe marlothii - Mountain Aloe
8’ - 10’ x 3’ - 5’
Low
Aloe plicatilis - Fan Aloe
4’ - 8’ x 4’ - 6’
Low
Aloe speciosa - Tilt Head Aloe
8’ - 10’ x 4’ - 6’
Low
Heads tend to tilt slightly towards the sun
Whorled leaf pattern
Aloe striata - Coral Aloe
2’ - 3’ x 1’ - 2’
Low
Pink strike on margin of leaf
No thorns anywhere
Amaryllis belladonna - Hybrid Naked Lady
2’ - 3’
Very Low
Arbutus ‘Marina’ - Strawberry Tree
40’ - 50’ x 25’ - 40’
Low
Arbutus unedo - Strawberry Tree
20’ - 30’ x 15’ - 40’
Low
Serrated leaf margins
Trunk is not red (like ‘Marina’)
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana - King Palm
50’ - 70’ x 10’ - 15’
Moderate
Feather-like leaves
Green stem
Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ - Myers Asparagus
1’ - 2’ x 1’ - 2’
Moderate
Large spikes
Aspidistra elatior - Cast Iron Plant
2’ - 3’ x 2’ - 3’
Moderate
Baccharis pilularis - Coyote Bush
3’ - 6’ x 6’ - 8’
Low
Bauhinia forficata - Brazilian Orchid Tree
25’ - 35’
Moderate
Beaumontia grandiflora - Easter Lilly Vine
15’ - 30’
Moderate
Large, unserrated, lush leaves; trumpet shaped white flowers
Bismarckia nobilis - Bismarck Palm
40’ - 70’ x 10’ - 15’
Moderate
Blue foliage; large size of each leaf
Bougainvillea spp. - Bougainvillea
Spreading
Low
Bouteloua gracilis - Blue Grama Grass
1’ x 1’
Low
Seeds look like eyebrows
Seeds at 90 degree angle from stalk
Brahea armata - Mexican Blue Palm
25’ - 40’ x 6’ - 8’
Low
Brugmansia spp. - Angel’s Trumpet
8’ - 15’
Moderate
Poisonous; hallucinogen
Butia capitata (odorata) - Pindo Palm
15’ - 20’ x 10’ - 15’
Low
Blue colored, feathered, arched fronds
Buxus microphylla japonica - Japanese Boxwood
4’ - 6’ x 4’ - 6’
Moderate
Calliandra haematocephala - Pink Powder Puff
10’ - 20’ x 6’ - 12’
Moderate
Calodendrum capense - Cape Chestnut
25’ - 40’
Moderate
Canna spp. - Canna Lily
Variable sizes
Moderate
Carex tumilicola (C. divulsa) - Berkeley Sedge
1’ - 2’ x 1’ - 2’
Low
Carissa macrocarpa - Natal Plum
6’ - 8’
Low
Hides thorns
Cassia leptophylla - Gold Medallion Tree
20’ x 20’
Moderate
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus ‘Yankee Point’ - Yankee Point Ceanothus
2’ - 3’ x 8’ - 10’
Low
Blue, scented flower
Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ - Atlas Cedar
40’ - 60’ x 20’ - 30’
Moderate
Short, blue needles
Cercis canadensis - Forest Pansy Redbud
Moderate
Chamaerops humilis - European Fan Palm
8’ - 12’ x 10’ - 15’
Low
Fan-shaped leaf with gaps in between each leaflet
Spikes along base of frond
Chondropetalum tectorum - Cape Rush
2’ - 3’ x 3’ - 4’
Low
Chorisia speciosa - Silk Floss Tree
40’ - 60’ x 20’ - 40’
Low
Green trunk covered in large spikes; hibiscus-like flower
Cinnamomum camphora - Camphor Tree
Moderate
Cistanthe grandiflora - Rock Purslane
1’ - 2’ x spreading
Low
Cistus x pulverulentus ‘Sunset’ - Magenta Rockrose
2’ - 3’ x 6’ - 8’
Low
Clivia miniata - Bush Lily
2’ x 2’
Low
Crassula ovata - Jade Plant
4’ - 6’ x 4’ - 5’
Low
Cupressus sempervirens - Italian Cupress
40’ - 60’ x 8’ - 12’
Low
Cyathea cooperi - Australian Tree Fern
15’ - 20’ x 8’ - 12’
High
Cycas revoluta - Sago Palm
10’ - 10’
Moderate
Dasylirion longissimum - Toothless Desert Spoon
6’ - 10’ x 4’ - 6’
Very Low
Needle-like leaves
Dasylirion wheeleri - Desert Spoon
4’ - 6’ x 3’ - 4’
Very Low
Sharp-toothed margins
Flattened leaves
Dianella tasmanica - New Zealand Flax
2’ - 3’
Moderate
Dicksonia antarctica - New Zealand Tree Fern
12’ - 16’ x 8’ - 12’
High
Dietes grandiflora - Fortnight Lily
3’ x 3’
Low
Dodonaea viscosa - Hopseed Bush
12’ - 16’ x 8’ - 12’
Low
Distinctive papery bracts near seedpods
Doryanthes palmeri - Spear Lily
6’ - 8’ x 4’ - 6’
Low
Dracaena draco - Dragon Tree
15’ - 25’ x 15’ - 25’
Very Low
Duranta erecta - Skyflower
8’ - 15’
Moderate
Echeveria ‘Afterglow’ - Afterglow Echeveria
1’ x 1’
Low
Epilobium (Zauschneria) canum - California Fuschia
1’ - 3’ x 1’ - 5’
Very Low
Eriogonum arborescens - Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat
3’ x 3’
Very Low
Eriogonum fasciculatum - California Buckwheat
1.5’-3’ x 3’-6’
Very Low
Eriogonum giganteum - St. Catherine’s Lace Buckwheat
1.5’-4’ x 3’-6’
Very Low
Eriogonum grande rubescens - San Miguel Island Buckwheat
1’ x 2’
Very Low
Erythrina caffra - Coral Tree
20’ - 40’ x 40’ - 60’
Low
Erythrina coralloides - Naked Coral Tree
30’ x 30’
Low
Eucalyptus (Corymbia) ficifolia - Red Flowering Gum
25’ - 40’
Low
Eucalyptus deglupta - Mindanao Gum
35’+ x 8’ - 12’
Moderate
Multi-colored trunk; lush green leaves
Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks of Fire’ - Pencil Bush, Milkbush
4’ - 8’ x 3’ - 5’
Very Low
Feijoa sellowiana - Pineapple Guava
12’ - 20’ x 10’ - 15’
Low
Ficus benjamina - Weeping Fig
60’ - 100’ x 50’ - 60’
Moderate
Ficus carica - Edible Fig
10’ - 20’
Moderate
Ficus macrophylla - Mortan Bay Fig
75’ - 180’ x 70’ - 130’
Moderate
Ficus microcarpa - Indian Laural Fig
25’ - 35’ x 35’ - 40’
Moderate
Ficus pumila (repens) - Creeping Fig
Spreading
Moderate
Fragaria chiloensis - Beach Strawberry
1” - 3” x spreading
Moderate
Furcraea macdougallii - MacDougall’s Century Plant
12’ - 20’ x 6’ - 8’
Low
Galvesia speciosa - Island Snap Dragon
1’-6’ x 3’-12’
Very Low
Geijera parviflora - Australian Willow
30’ x 20’
Low
Ginkgo biloba - Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree
Moderate
Leaf shape
Hedychium coronarium - White Ginger
4’ - 6’ x 3’ - 4’
High
Hemerocallis spp. - Day Lily
2’ x 2’
Moderate
Hesperaloe parviflora - Red Yucca
3’ x 5’
Very Low
Heuchera maxima - Island Alum Root
1’ x 1’-2’
Low
Hymenosporum flavum - Sweetshade
20’ - 35’ x 15’ - 20’
Moderate
Iris douglasiana - Douglas Iris
6”-18” x 1’-3’
Low
Jacaranda mimosifolia - Jacaranda
40’ - 50’ x 20’ - 30’
Moderate
Juncus ‘Carman’s Japan’ - Carman’s Japan Rush
1’ - 2’
Moderate
Kniphofia spp. - Red Hot Poker
2’ - 3’
Moderate
Lagerstroemia indica - Crepe Myrtle
15’ - 25’ x 15’ - 25’
Moderate
Peeling bark
Lepechinia fragrans - Pitcher Sage
3’ - 5’ x 3’ - 5’
Low
Covered in fuzzy hairs
Leptospermum laevigatum - Australian Tea Tree
10’ - 30’
Low
Ligustrum japonicum ‘ Texanum’ - Texas Privet
8’ - 10’ x 4’ - 6’
Moderate
Limonium perezii - Sea Lavender
2’ - 3’ x 2’ - 3’
Low
Liquidambar styraciflua - Sweet Gum
80’ x 40’
Moderate
Liriope muscari - Lily Turf
1’ - 2’ x 1’ - 2’
Moderate
Lomandra hystrix ‘Tropic Belle’ - Tropic Belle Matt Rush
2’ - 3’ x 2’ - 4’
Moderate
Lomandra longifolia ‘Breeze’ - Breeze Matt Rush
2’ - 3’ x 2’ - 4’
Low
Lophostomon confertus - Brisbane Box
30’ - 50’ x 10’ - 30’
Moderate
Magnolia grandiflora - Magnolia
60’ x 80’
Moderate
Magnolia x soulangeana - Saucer Magnolia
25’ x 25’
Moderate
Maytenus boaria - Mayten Tree
20’ - 30’ x 15’ - 20’
Moderate
Weeping foliage
Melaleuca nesophila - Pink Melaleuca
15’ - 20’ x 8’ - 12’
Low
Pink powder puff blooms
Melaleuca quinquenervia - Paperbark Tree
25’ - 40’ x 15’ - 30
Low
Melianthus major - Honey Bush
8’ - 12’ x 8’ - 12’
Low
Deeply serrated leaves; red bloom spikes
Metrosideros excelsa - New Zealand Christmas Tree
20’ - 30’ x 12’ - 15’
Moderate
Arial suckers
Muhlenbergia rigens - Deer Grass
4’ - 5’ x 4’ - 6’
Low
Myrtus communis - Common Myrtle
8’ - 12’ x 8’ - 12’
Low
Fragrant leaves
Nerium oleander - Oleander
8’ - 10’ x 8’ - 10’
Low
Olea europaea - Olive
Low
Otatea acuminata - Mexican Weeping Bamboo
15’ - 20’
Moderate
Cercidium ‘Desert Museum’ (Parkinsonia ‘Desert Museum’) - Desert Museum Palo Verde
25’ x 25’
Very Low
Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ - Xanadu Philodendron
2’ - 3’ x 3’ - 4’
Moderate
Phoenix canariensis - Canary Island Date Palm
50’ - 60’ x 40’
Low
Thick trunk, feathered leaves
Phoenix dactylifera - Date Palm
80’ - 100’ x 20’ - 40’
Low
Fewer leaflets with more space between them
More grey and spikier
Phoenix reclinata - Senegal Date Palm
25’ - 35’ x 12’ - 20’
Moderate
Phoenix roebelenii - Pigmy Date Palm
6’ - 12’
Moderate
Phormium tenax - New Zealand Flax
4’ - 8’ x 4’ - 8’
Low
Evergreen, strappy foliage
Pinus canariensis - Canary Island Pine
50’ - 80’ x 20’ - 35’
Low
Pittosporum crassifolium - Karo
8’ - 12’ x 6’ - 8’
Moderate
Pittosporum tenuifolium - Kohuhu, Pittosporum
15’ - 25’ x 10’ - 15’
Moderate
Pittosporum tobira - Mock Orange
12’ x 12’
Moderate
Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’ - Variegated Mock Orange
4’ - 5’ x 4’ - 5’
Moderate
Pittosporum tobira ‘Wheeler’s Dwarf’ - Wheeler’s Dwarf Pittosporum
3’ - 4’ x 4’ - 5’
Moderate
Platanus racemosa - Western Sycamore
30’ - 80’ x 20’ - 50’
Moderate
Platanus x hispanica (acerifolia) - London Plane Tree
70’ - 85’ x 50’ - 70’
Moderate
Plectranthus argentatus - Silver Shield
1’ - 3’ x spreading
Moderate
Plumeria rubra - Plumeria, Frangipani
20’ - 25’ x 20’ - 25’
Low
Podocarpus gracilior (Afrocarpus gracilior) - Fern Pine
40’ - 50’ x 20’ - 40’
Moderate
Portulacaria afra - Elephant’s Food
8’ - 12’ x 4’ - 6’
Very Low
Prunus cerasifera ‘Atropurpurea’ - Purple Leaf Plum
25’ - 35’ x 25’ - 35’
Moderate
Prunus ilicifolia - Holly Leaf Cherry
3’ - 15’ x 3’ - 18’
Very Low
Punica granatum - Pomegranite
8’ x 8’
Low
Quercus agrifolia - Coast Live Oak
20’ - 70’ x 20’ - 70’
Very Low
Quercus suber - Cork Oak
25’ - 40’ x 15’ - 25’
Low
Spongy trunk (cork)
Rhamnus (Frangula) californica - Coffeeberry
6’ - 12’
Very Low
Rhaphiolepis indica - Indian Hawthorne
4’ - 6’ x 4’ - 6’
Low
Ribes viburnifolium - Catalina Perfume
3’ - 4’ x 4’ - 6’
Very Low
Rosa ‘Iceberg’ - Iceberg Rose
Moderate
Rosmarinus officinalis - Rosemary
4’ - 6’ x 4’ - 5’
Very Low
Salvia apiana - White Sage
4’ - 5’ x 4’ - 5’
Very Low
Salvia leucantha - Mexican Bush Sage
3’ - 4’ x 4’ - 6’
Low
Fuzzy purple blooms
Salvia spathacea - Hummingbird Sage
1’ - 2’ x spreading
Low
Schefflera pueckleri - Tupidanthus
15’ - 20’ x 15’ - 25’
Moderate
Schinus molle - California Pepper
25’ - 40’
Very Low
Distinct leaf shape
Schinus terebinthifolius - Brazilian Pepper
25’ - 40’
Moderate
Wider leaf than S. molle
Senecio mandraliscae - Blue Chalk Sticks
1’ - 3’ x 2’ - 3’
Low
Sequoia sempervirens - Redwood
100’+ x 10’ - 20’
High
Red bark; soft-textured foliage
Sesleria autumnalis - Autumn Moor Grass
1’ - 2’ x 1’ - 2’
Moderate
Stipa (Nassella) tenuissima - Mexican Feather Grass
2’ x 2’
Low
Strelitzia nicolai - Giant Bird of Paradise
25’ - 30’ x 15’
Moderate
More upright; treelike
Leaves may shred
Flower bloom is white
Strelitzia reginae - Bird of Paradise
4’ - 6’ x 4’ - 6’
Moderate
Orange/blue flower bloom
Syagrus romanzoffiana - Queen Palm
50’ x 20’ - 30’
Moderate
Fox-tail leaf shape
Thevetia peruviana - Yellow Oleander
8’ - 12’
Low
Tibouchina heteromalla - Silver leafed Princess Flower
8’ - 10’ x 4’ - 6’
Moderate
Tipuana tipu - Tipu Tree
30’ - 40’ x 30’
Low
Trachelospermum jasminoides - Star Jasmine
2’ - 6’ x Spreading
Moderate
Trachycarpus fortunei - Windmill Palm
25’ - 30’ x 8’ - 10’
Moderate
Thatch along the trunk
Ulmus parvifolia - Chinese Elm
40’ - 60’
Moderate
Vitex agnus-castus - Chastity Tree
8’ - 15’
Low
Washingtonia filifera - California Fan Palm
50’ - 70’ x 10’ - 20’
Moderate
Washingtonia robusta - Mexican Fan Palm
80’ - 100’ x 10’ - 15’
Low
Thinner trunk and taller (thank Washingtonia filifera)
Westringia fruticosa - Coast Rosemary
4’ - 5’ x 6’ - 12’
Low
Wisteria sinensis - Chinese Wisteria
Spreading
Moderate
Yucca gloriosa - Spanish Dagger
8’ - 20’ x 6’ - 8’
Low
Zephyranthes candida - Rain Lily
1’ x 1’ - 2’
Moderate
